***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[Good Posting Judge]

Early game lines (click each matchup to see different odds from different books):

http://www.bookies.com/betting-odds/football/world-cup/

 

[Sammy3469]

I looked up Manaus on a map, good lord it's deep in there.

That's what she said

 

[Good Posting Judge]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbI0cMyyw_M

 

[Native]

From Reddit:

And for the 2014 World Cup, the USA draws Germany, Ghana, Portugal, 2010 Spain, the 1985 Chicago Bears, and the Monstars from Space Jam.

 

[Sammy3469]

Early game lines (click each matchup to see different odds from different books):

http://www.bookies.com/betting-odds/football/world-cup/

Getting 7:2 odds on a US win against Portugal seems good.

England getting 3:1 against Italy to win seems unusual too.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Germany does have the $ and expectations to travel well but we'd still probably have comparable numbers.

Seriously? I would expect German fans to be there in droves.

Yes, but so do Muricans.

-QG

 

[Eephus]

I looked up Manaus on a map, good lord it's deep in there.

Ian Horncastle speculated that a jaguar might attack Theo Walcott in the second half.

Tripadvisor's things to do in Manaus. #1 and #4 appear to be the same place.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I just bet $1 on each of the African teams to win the cup. #burnsmoney

While I don't think they'll win, 3 of the 5 certainly got favorable advancing draws. If African teams don't make noise this year it won't be because of the draw.

Pele's prediction of an African World Cup winner seems as unlikely as ever.

I figure if I just cheer for African teams I have better odds than cheering for the US.

I pretty much just root for all the underdogs to win. Anybody but the Euro powers and Brazil/Argentina.

 

[QuizGuy66]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

 

[NewlyRetired]

I just bet $1 on each of the African teams to win the cup. #burnsmoney

While I don't think they'll win, 3 of the 5 certainly got favorable advancing draws. If African teams don't make noise this year it won't be because of the draw.

Pele's prediction of an African World Cup winner seems as unlikely as ever.

I figure if I just cheer for African teams I have better odds than cheering for the US.

I pretty much just root for all the underdogs to win. Anybody but the Euro powers and Brazil/Argentina.

not me. I want an Argie Brazil final with Messi putting his stamp on the best player ever title that is with in his grasp.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I have this weird feeling that Spain is going to crash out early.

 

[QuizGuy66]

I looked up Manaus on a map, good lord it's deep in there.

Ian Horncastle speculated that a jaguar might attack Theo Walcott in the second half.

Tripadvisor's things to do in Manaus. #1 and #4 appear to be the same place.

From #3

• “Sanctuary from the Heat and Noise” 10/06/2013
• “OK church” 08/03/2013

-QG

 

[Sinn Fein]

Just noticed that all four teams in group G advanced in the last WC

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I pretty much just root for all the underdogs to win. Anybody but the Euro powers and Brazil/Argentina.

not me. I want an Argie Brazil final with Messi putting his stamp on the best player ever title that is with in his grasp.

Yeah, I would expect the big soccer fans to want to see the best teams and players showcased. For me I'd love to see Iran v. Honduras in the final.

 

[QuizGuy66]

One nice bit with the schedule is that both of our first 2 game are the 2nd game in the group. We'll have a good idea of how things are shaping up ahead of time.

Good example.

Germany beats Portugal and then we beat Ghana

Germany beats Ghana.

At this point we'd know that a win over Portugal would get us through and that 2 ties would do the same. That's a plausible scenario and one that could put us in a good frame of mind going into the Portugal game.

-QG

 

[Slapdash]

I pretty much just root for all the underdogs to win. Anybody but the Euro powers and Brazil/Argentina.

not me. I want an Argie Brazil final with Messi putting his stamp on the best player ever title that is with in his grasp.

Yeah, I would expect the big soccer fans to want to see the best teams and players showcased. For me I'd love to see Iran v. Honduras in the final.

Why do you hate Murica?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Plenty of history for some casual viewers to catch up on.

US vs Germany 1998 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6CbJY9WjuU

US vs Portugal 2002 Highligts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rX1bbTaJ40

US vs Germany 2002 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQvQLUj6No

US vs Ghana 2006 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUuZaaLo7y0

US vs Ghana 2010 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MpMBEmBBsQ

 

[NewlyRetired]

Well the draw might have been bad for the US but the time slots for the US games are not terrible.

The first game against Ghana is at 6:00pm eastern on a Monday and should draw a nice ratings and then they get a Sunday afternoon 3:00pm eastern match up against Portugal that should draw enormous numbers assuming the US does not get crushed in game one.

I am sure Univision is more than happy with Mexico's draw hoping that they can get to the second round as they usually do.

 

[NewlyRetired]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 views

We should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

 

[Slapdash]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 views

We should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

 

[AAABatteries]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Thanks! That's not quite as bad as I would have thought.

The reason I was hoping for an easy draw is that ultimately the US advancing and having the perception of doing well just helps soccer in general in the states. I think the more we have our best athletes playing soccer from the time they are little the better we will be 5, 10, 15 years down the road. I know we've talked about it in the past but for most of the countries who will be participating in the WC they will have a lot of their best athletes participating. Not to knock our players because some of them are fantastic talents and athletes but I still wonder how well we could do if our best were playing soccer from the time they are kids. Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Just noticed that all four teams in group G advanced in the last WC

Group A: Quarterfinalist, Round of 16, last in group, did not qualify

Group B: Winner, Runner-up, Round of 16, 3rd in group

Group C: Round of 16, 3rd in group, 3rd in group, did not qualify

Group D: Semi-finalst, Round of 16, last in group, did not qualify

Group E: 3rd in group, last in group, last in group, did not qualify (for the record folks, Switzerland and Honduras drew 0-0 last time)

Group F: Quarterfinalist, last in group, did not qualify, did not qualify

Group G: Semi-finalist, quarterfinalist, Round of 16, Round of 16

Group H: Round of 16, last in group did not qualify, did not qualify

-QG

 

[AAABatteries]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 views

We should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

There hasn't been much (or any) douchebaggery so we got that going for us.

 

[QuizGuy66]

In 2006, the WC thread on the FFA had 502 replies and 5,186 views

In 2010, the WC thread on the FFA had 9,544 replies and 109,367 views

We should pass the 2006 numbers in this thread before the turn of the year.

so much for turn of the year.

This thread is already well ahead of the entire WC thread in 2006.

A lot of post padding going on here.

-QG

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

 

[T Bell]

I looked up Manaus on a map, good lord it's deep in there.

And Woy Hodgson has gone out of his way to ingratiate himself and his team to the home fans even before today's draw (which put them in Manaus to open).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Donovan and DMB go back to the Portugal/Germany games in 2002. (DMB did not play against Germany, Landon played in both)

Is there anyone on either Germany or Portugal that tie back to those games?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I looked up Manaus on a map, good lord it's deep in there.

Now I understand why your mom kept calling me Manaus last night. I was so confused.

 

[AAABatteries]

I've been trying for 15 minutes to figure out who that chick was at the draw earlier but not having any luck. I keep getting pics of Charlize Theron - which isn't bad. Anyone have any idea who she is?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

The US players are not lacking in athleticism. We are lacking in soccer technique and skills, and IQ for the most part.

Some of the African teams are as "athletic" as one could hope for that does not help them against players with top skill.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

I think his examples weren't especially good. Maybe Allen Iverson? But the better examples might be guys we don't know who would have been really good at soccer but instead grew up playing basketball, but they weren't tall enough to make it to the NBA.

 

[Area51Inhabitant]

Donovan and DMB go back to the Portugal/Germany games in 2002. (DMB did not play against Germany, Landon played in both)

Is there anyone on either Germany or Portugal that tie back to those games?

Klose is playing in his last WC.

 

[AAABatteries]

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

I think that's true for your average suburban kid but I don't think kids that live in urban areas are playing nearly as much. I'd be curious to know those numbers and also the breakdown by sport of the players who came from a suburban background versus urban.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

I think his examples weren't especially good. Maybe Allen Iverson? But the better examples might be guys we don't know who would have been really good at soccer but instead grew up playing basketball, but they weren't tall enough to make it to the NBA.

It just loses some of its sizzle when you say, "can you imagine Nate Robinson as a soccer player?"

 

[Mjolnirs]

Donovan and DMB go back to the Portugal/Germany games in 2002. (DMB did not play against Germany, Landon played in both)

Is there anyone on either Germany or Portugal that tie back to those games?

Klose.

 

[AAABatteries]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

How many of the players who look like them played soccer their entire life?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

I think his examples weren't especially good. Maybe Allen Iverson? But the better examples might be guys we don't know who would have been really good at soccer but instead grew up playing basketball, but they weren't tall enough to make it to the NBA.

Shaq in goal would have been pretty sweet. Aside from the space he'd eat up, imagine if you're a striker on a breakaway and you suddenly saw him coming at you at 20 MPH, screaming? I'd just fire the ball into the stands to avoid the collision.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

QG, based on your possible draw spreadsheet, exactly how bad did our draw end up? Seems to me to be in the bottom 10% of what we could have gotten but I'm curious what your numbers say.

There were about 2/9 of draw combinations that would've been tougher and about 3/4 of draw combinations that would've been better.

There's about 2.5% of draws that were comparable.

-QG

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

This argument always drives me nuts. What world class footballer looks like any of these guys? Being Drogba or Ibra's size is about as physically imposing as you can get in soccer. Do we really think Maradonna would have been better if he looked Adrian Peterson?

How many of the players who look like them played soccer their entire life?

Brazil is a pretty big country. And soccer is absurdly popular there. But tall rangy guys who can jump out of the gym play basketball or volleyball in Brazil. Because those are sports that fit their skill set. The Brazilian team has a lot of very athletic players, but their best player is a guy who looks like he should be on the Bad News Bears, not the Chicago Bears.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Reality TV Show Idea:

Take 50 college athletes from basketball/football/maybe baseball. Guys that didn't go on to play pro ball.

Put that group of 50 through training/tryouts to cut down to a soccer team.

Have that team play a friendly against an MLS team as the season finale.

 

[Jaysus]

Donovan and DMB go back to the Portugal/Germany games in 2002. (DMB did not play against Germany, Landon played in both)

Is there anyone on either Germany or Portugal that tie back to those games?

Klose is playing in his last WC.

Klose needs what, 1 or 2 goals to set the all time tourney record?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Imagine Calvin Johnson as a center forward or LeBron as a DM or CB. Kevin Love as keeper. I know it doesn't always translate so some of those guys wouldn't be world class in soccer but ultimately we will never be in the same league as the other top teams until we get more top athletes playing and advancing at the world cup can only help that.

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

Soccer players tend to drop the sport at alarmingly high numbers when they hit their teens, too. It's still often viewed as a kids' sport.

 

[ffldrew]

I have this weird feeling that Spain is going to crash out early.

Spanish Federation needs to tell Barca to blow up early in Champions league so they can rest a bit

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Shaq in goal would have been pretty sweet. Aside from the space he'd eat up, imagine if you're a striker on a breakaway and you suddenly saw him coming at you at 20 MPH, screaming? I'd just fire the ball into the stands to avoid the collision.

Nah, I would just shoot low. It's tough for somebody that tall to get down to the ground quickly.

 

[AAABatteries]

I think his examples weren't especially good. Maybe Allen Iverson? But the better examples might be guys we don't know who would have been really good at soccer but instead grew up playing basketball, but they weren't tall enough to make it to the NBA.

Most likely, those guys just came to mind. With LeBron's speed, strength and quickness it's hard for me to believe that he wouldn't be a good CB if he played soccer his entire life.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Reality TV Show Idea:

Take 50 college athletes from basketball/football/maybe baseball. Guys that didn't go on to play pro ball.

Put that group of 50 through training/tryouts to cut down to a soccer team.

Have that team play a friendly against an MLS team as the season finale.

They would get crushed.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

So am I culturally biased towards nutty, somewhat-random draws like this, as opposed to seeding on merit the way the NCAA tournament does? Is it an American thing? Am I not enough of an existentialist? Am I just sour after today/bitter towards Mexico?

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Reality TV Show Idea:

Take 50 college athletes from basketball/football/maybe baseball. Guys that didn't go on to play pro ball.

Put that group of 50 through training/tryouts to cut down to a soccer team.

Have that team play a friendly against an MLS team as the season finale.

They would get crushed.

Agreed, but it would be a great show.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

I think this might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but right now soccer is pretty much the most popular organized youth sport in the U.S. Most kids aren't playing at a high level or anything, but lots of kids are playing.

Soccer players tend to drop the sport at alarmingly high numbers when they hit their teens, too. It's still often viewed as a kids' sport.

I think that might be more about the demographics of who is playing different sports, not whether it's considered a "kids' sport."

 

[Mjolnirs]

Donovan and DMB go back to the Portugal/Germany games in 2002. (DMB did not play against Germany, Landon played in both)

Is there anyone on either Germany or Portugal that tie back to those games?

Klose is playing in his last WC.

Klose needs what, 1 or 2 goals to set the all time tourney record?

1 to tie, 2 to take it.Frings handball in 2002 A highwater mark for the US in the last 70+ years.